Tigers earn unhappy feat
Mark Stevens | May 07, 2008
IT IS the stat that could leave Terry Wallace grimacing or giggling.
The Richmond coach watched his Tigers smash St Kilda 131-80 for contested possessions at Telstra Dome on Saturday night.
It was the equal-third largest differential since Champion Data started compiling the stat in 1999.
History suggests a plus-51 result for contested footy is a sure-fire recipe for success, yet the Tigers lost by three points.
Understandably, it was the greatest difference by a losing side.
Of the 123 teams to win the contested possession battle by more than 30 since 1999, only six have lost.
Making Wallace's nightmare even more gruesome was that the Tigers had 14 more inside-50s and 77 more disposals in total.
If Kelvin Moore had slotted his set shot in the final minute, the Tigers may have won.
And the kick, which looked to be headed straight before taking a vicious hook, was synonymous with the rest of the game.
St Kilda's kicking efficiency finished at 75 per cent.
But Richmond could manage only 63 per cent.
The Tigers shot themselves . . . by foot.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23657460-19742,00.html
